Jury selection to begin in Hallsville murder trial

MARSHALL - Jury selection is scheduled to begin Wednesday in the murder trial of Colin Christopher Rider, who is charged with murder of Carroll Gene Reeves, of Hallsville.

During a status hearing this past week, Harrison County District Attorney Coke Solomon and Rider's attorney, Rick Hagan, told 71st District Judge William Hughey they planned to try the case after Rider rejected two plea offers from the state - one for 35 years in prison in exchange for a plea of guilty and another for 37 years.

Testimony in the case is set to begin the week after the jury is impaneled.

Harrison County investigators said Reeves, 52, was found dead in his home at 6951 E. Highway 80 in Hallsville around 6 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2011.

Officers said it appeared a burglary had occurred at Reeves' residence, and that he had been shot in the head.

Officers discovered the suspect, then-29-year-old Rider, while responding to a call about a second gunshot victim several hours later, at 106 Tiffany St. in Hallsville.

While conducting interviews, deputies determined the two shootings were related and had occurred at the same time at the Reeves' residence, according to a release issued by investigators.